Automatic funnel.



@Mmmm gm f N0V 847,681. I I PATENTED MAR.V12, 1907.

' E. R. KERN.

AUTOMATIC PUNNBL.

APPLIoATIoN FILED A1114, 190e.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

#wanton PATENTBD MAR-12, 1907 E. R. KERN.

AUTOMATIC FUNNEL. APPLIUATION FILED APR. 14. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MGA ai y 8 u TIE E @www UNITED srATEs PATENT oEEicE.

ENGELBERT KERN, OF FARIBAULT, MINNESOTA.-

AUTNIATIC FUNNEL.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Appiiaion nea April 14, 190e. sn'u No. 311,764;

and I do hereby declare the following to be' a full, clear, andex'act description'of the invention,such as will enableothers'skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention has relation to'funnels of Athe kind that are adapted to close automatically when the liquid in the vessel in which lhe spout is-inserted rises to a predetermined e1g t. y

1t is the object of the invention to provide such improvements as will insure' the closing of the funnel with certainty at predetermined points, making the parts durable, not liable to get out of order from use for which they are designed, and to make the closing device adjustable, so-as to vary the point of closing.

The

view of the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specication, and then -be pointed out v in the claim.

Of the said drawings, Figure 1 is aside view of my improved funnel. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view representing the funnel as open. lFig is a similar view showing the funnel in closed position. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the valve.

Similar gures of reference indicate similar parts or portions, as the case may be, Whenever they` occur.

5 designates the body of the funnel, which may be of the form shown or any other capable of 'performing the same functions and having a spout 6 at the bottom, through which the liquid that may be poured in the l mouth ofthe utensil will be discharged.

7 designates a weighted valve hinged to the interior side of the receiving part of the funnel and fitted so asto close down on the valve-seat 8, with which the upperend of the spout 6 is provided. l

9 designates a wire or rod connected loosely at its lower end to a projection on the side of the valve and at its upper end passing through a guide-eye formed on the upper edge of the funnel, whereby by drawing upon the 'wire the valve may be raised and otherwise operated or controlled, as may be required in its use.

invention will first be .described inA 10 designates a latch-wire connected with the bottom of the valve and extending thence into the funnel-spout. The said wire 10 is given around bend just below the valve, as indicated by 11, andv terminates in a substantial right-angularlateral bend 12.

13 designates a float arranged below the spout 6 'and' connected with the lower end of a wire 14, that extends up through suitable guides or bearings into the spout and is provided at its upper part with a return-bend`15, that catches over the `lateral terminal 120i forms a kind of hook, the wire 14` extends laterally in substantially a straight line, as indicated by 16. v

The construction and arrangement of parts drawn upon the valve will beraised to o en position, as shown in Fig., 2, and it wil be held in this position by reason of engagement of the portion 12 of wire 10 in'the hook formed by the return-bend 15 ofthe wire 14, the bill portion lof which hok k holds the portion 12 against swinging on the valve-hinge as a center, it being understood that the wire 14 will be to an extent bound in the bearings, and thus maintained in substantially vertical position. AThe instant,` however, that the float is raised the wire 14 is likewise raised, so that the lateral bend 12 swings out from under the bill of the hook and from engagement with the latter, due to downward tendency ofthe weighted valve, which latter moves to its seat and closes the spout `against further iiow of liquid from the funneh Upon the occurrence of this action the portion 12 passes along the under side of the part 16 of the wire 14 and stops short of its extremity, so that when the valve is again raised through the medium of the wire 9 the portion 12 will have a return movement along the portion 16 of the wire 14, raising said wire, and will then pass into the return-bend 15 in the position illustrated in Fig. 2, at which time thefloat 13 will carry the wire 14 downwardly into locking position.

It will vnow be understood that when the utensil is set in open position, as shown in Fig. 2, the funnel may have its spout with the float below it inserted in the vessel which it is proposed to ll, and liquid may be poured 'through the funnel-mouth until it rises high enough to raise the oat. This. action will raise vwire 14 so as to release hook 15 from the lateral extension of wire 10, and

described,are such that when the wire 9 is.

the latch-wire 10. From the bend 15, which IOC IIO

`this allows the Valve to fall upon its seat,

completely closing the spout against the further passage of the fluid. In this manner the funnel is made to automatically prevent the filling of bottles or any other receptacles of Huid to overflow or to be illed to a higher line than is desired. y

Means are illustrated in Fig. 2, such as the nuts and the threads on the wire 14, Jfor adjusting the float to causel the funnel to cut 0H at different stages of filling the bottle, and it will be understood that any means for this purpose may be employed.

It is obvious that strict observanceoif all forms and arrangements ol' parte is not necesi sary to keep within the nature or spirit of the invention, since latitude wit-hin the scope of mechanical skill may be allowed for these.

- What is claimed is- In aV self-closing valve, the combination with the funnel proper and its mouth and outflow-spout7 hinged weighted valve and its seat in the funnel, means for raising the senesi Valve, a latch-wire extending from the hotftoin of the Valve andhaving a right-angular z 5 bend the terminal of which is bent at a substantial right angle to the :first-mentionecl` bend, a oat below the funnel-spout, having 'a wire connected therewith extending upv through the spout and rovided at its upper 3o end with a return-bend ook, the end portion r oi the latter wire eXtendin laterally front the lower end of vthe hill o` said hook, the

'last-mentioned loend of 'the latch- Wire being y adapted to engage the hook of the float-wire 3 5 and to be disengaged therefrom vand being also adapted to engage the lateral extension om the bill of the hook when the valve is closed. V

ln testimony whereof l affix my signature 4o in presence of two Witnesses,

ENGELBERT R. KERN.

Witnesses:

J. J. RACHAL, J. W. BRENDA. 

